The self-cultivation methods of philosophical Daoism are the consequence of thousands of years of Chinese medical research, and are designed to assist the individual to attain the highest states of health and longevity. It is this distinct body of knowledge that has been passed-on from one generation to the next, in an uninterrupted line of transmission within China, and now throughout the world. This was made possible by my great grandfather – Zhao Bichen (赵避尘) - who was the 11th generation (outside the temple) disciple of the previously ‘secret’ ‘Dragon Gate’ (龙门 – Long Men) School of Daoist health and longevity self-cultivation. Zhao Bichen’s Daoist name was ‘Yi Zi’ (一子). He abandoned the traditional ‘secrecy’ associated with Daoist practice, and through his founding of the ‘Thousand Peaks Earlier Divine-Sky’ (千峰先天 – Qian Feng Xian Tian) School in 1928, he started to teach anyone who requested instruction. Zhao Bichen originally developed the Qianfeng School out of respect for his teacher – Liao Kong (了空). This school emphasises the Daoist self-cultivation (and healing) of the mind and body, and is open to anyone to join. This is made possible because the Zhao family inherited and preserves the ‘secret’ Daoist self-cultivation techniques, and makes these techniques available to all genuine practitioners. Therefore, simply knowing the detailed history of Daoism is not enough to achieve the most profound levels of health and longevity, as a practitioner must be initiated into the higher teachings (known only to the genuine masters).

Since Zhao Bichen started teaching Daoist self-cultivation of body and mind, there has been over two thousand people who have correctly learned the Qianfeng method. There were a number of notable people from the Republican days, including Wu Peifu (吴佩孚), Li Yuanhong (黎元洪), Zhang Zuolin (张作霖) – father and son – and many other celebrities from many different walks of life. This was possible due to the fact that the Daoist wisdom built-up over thousands of years, was carefully passed-on to anyone who requested training, but this wasn’t a haphazard affair. Correct Daoist training is not just the gathering of chronological historical facts, but involves the deep penetration of the essence of Daoist knowledge and practice. In the past, a Daoist master would only pass-on this knowledge to a chosen few, or perhaps only a single individual during each generation. In recent years, there has been the expansion of Qianfeng Daoist practice outside of China, and into the international community. This has meant that the Qianfeng School has spread around the world. In certain Western countries there are a small number of Qianfeng practitioners who have attained considerable depth and attainment in this authentic Daoist lineage, and there are many others (behind the scenes) who practice in a more informal manner. Furthermore, such countries as the United States, Britain, France, Canada, Brazil and the Netherlands (as well as others), possess formal Qianfeng School disciplines. Zhang Qingsong (张庆松) in the US, is a Doctor of History, and has assisted myself – Zhao Ming Wang (赵明旺) – in the academic study of the history of Zhao Bichen, and the development of the Qianfeng School. This has included Professor Howard C. Nusbaum of the University of Chicago in the US, who has shown an interest in the wisdom of the Qianfeng lineage, as well as Professor Catherine Despeux in France (who has dedicated her life to Daoist practice). There are many Westerners who have expressed their friendliness toward the Qianfeng lineage, and who have all contributed in one-way or another, to its spread outside of China. In the UK, for instance, (there is the former Ch’an Buddhist monk) named ‘Shi Da Dao’ (释大道), whose lay name is Adrian Chan-Wyles. Through his (correct) understanding and practice of the authentic Qianfeng Earlier Divine-Sky methods of training the mind and body in Daoist health and longevity techniques, he has had numerous articles (and translations) included in the prestigious ‘Qi Journal’, published in the United States.

I am very grateful to the ‘collective’ efforts of these people, and many more like them, that have dedicated their time in various ways to spread the wisdom of the Qianfeng Daoist School. This means that the psychological and physical health of humanity has increased significantly both inside and outside of China. I send blessings to all the international friends of the Qianfeng School in Beijing!